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Most people don’t think about their plumbing until it’s too late.
That’s why it’s important to keep up to date with the current trends in plumbing. You could be living in an incredibly old house with lead pipes and dangerous water pressures without even knowing it.
While calling a plumbing and getting an inspection is the best way to determine whether or not your house needs an upgrade, you can also do a few things on your own to ensure your plumbing is top notch.
Following these tips, you’ll learn when it’s time for an upgrade and how to check if your plumbing is operating at maximum efficiency.
With these tips you’ll never get your pipes in a bunch again.
High hydro bills
Toilets use a lot of water. In fact, toilets can use up to 5 to 7 gallons of water a day, or 38 percent of the total water used inside in a typical US home.
Upgrading to a newer low-flow toilet can save significant amounts of water as they use only 1.6 gallons per flush.
Low-flow toilets use gravity or pressure-assisted technology to work. With improved hydraulics of tanks and bowls, modern low-flow toilets use significantly less water. This can reduce your use of bathroom water by 50 percent, saving you approximately $78 per year.
When there’s wearing and tearing on the pipes
Upon first moving in, you should examine the pipes in your house to get a clear understanding of where they are in their lifespan. Take pictures and make observations of them concerning rust, corrosive damage and functionality.
You can also call a plumber to do a free inspection of your home.
If your pipes are damaged, then it’s probably time to upgrade to a new system.
Low Water pressure
Low water pressure can be anything from a clogged pipe to a serious mold infestation. Whatever the case, low water pressure is a tell-tale sign that your pipes and washroom needs an upgrade.
But before calling a plumber, try cleaning out your pipes with proper cleaners. This will ensure that it isn’t just a simple clog.
If matters are more serious, for instance, if your pipes are eroding significantly, then it’s probably best to call a plumber.
Take out those lead pipes!
Some homes are very old and despite the fact that they have beautiful antique aesthetics, they also house dangerous materials that can be harmful to your body.
Things like lead pipes, which were commonly used in the early 1990s before people realized that they can be a serious health hazard.
Not only can they contaminate your water, but their lifespans are much shorter than modern pipes, being that they are extremely prone to breakage.
Make sure to check in with a plumber to figure out whether or not your pipes need to be replaced.
Water discolouration
If your water isn’t clear, then it’s time to upgrade your pipes.
For the most part, pipes have a long life span, ranging anywhere from 25-years to 100-years. When they get to a point where they are no longer functional, however, you’ll definitely see it in your water.
Discolouration in water is caused by pipes being rusty or clogged. If you don’t treat this immediately, it can lead to too much pressure causing the pipes to burst. If this happens, you may have to shell out a ton of cash to repair it.
So the moment your water becomes discoloured, maybe it’s time to upgrade.
Exposed pipes are your friends
Using exposed pipes as a guideline, you can determine the state of your plumbing.
Typically, houses that are 60-years and up have exposed pipes running along the basement. This will allow you to do a quick inspection on your pipes.
Make sure you look out for pipe discoloration, flaking, dimpling and bumps. Use common sense to determine if the pipe needs replacing. You should also look for moisture accumulation on the pipes. If you come across this, it means that your pipes aren’t sealed correctly. This just means that they probably need to be tightened.
